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Police believe this Alexa skill could prevent break-ins

For centuries, homeowners have relied on increasingly novel ways to deter would-be home invaders: From motion-sensing lights to dummy cameras, or even “beware of dog” signs that, let’s be honest, aren’t fooling anyone who has ever met your four pound Yorkie. But it’s a new Alexa skill that might be your best bet yet.

Created by Hippo Insurance, the skill allows anyone with an Alexa-equipped device to set it to “Away Mode.” Once activated, the device sporadically plays recorded conversations. These conversations are meant to be fairly mundane, although could be a bit humorous out of context. According to Andrea Collins, head of brand marketing at Hippo Insurance, “[The conversations are] funny but somewhat common conversations that happen in a home.”

It might seem silly, but at least one veteran police officer agrees it could successfully deter an opportunistic burglar.

“It’s what we call hardening the target,” Jim Bueermann, a 30-year law enforcement veteran and current president of the Police Foundation, told USA Today. “Most burglars don’t want you to see them. They want to get in, steal your stuff and get out.”

Bueermann warns, however, that a clever burglar could eventually realize they’re being tricked.

If I’m a burglar and I’m nervy enough, I’ll sit there and listen and figure out it’s a radio or a TV. Theoretically it’s a good idea. If this thing mimics real conversation, it’s much more likely to trick the burglar into believing somebody is home.

Collins warns that Away Mode isn’t meant to be taken seriously as a primary security measure. But if you want to give it a spin, it’s available now, for free, here.